Sanjjanaa Galrani, the Kannada actor who was arrested in the Sandalwood drug case and then released on bail on December 11, thanked fans for their support on Sunday on Instagram. Galrani said she would be back on social media as soon as her health improved.
Galrani wrote, “Lots of love to each and every person who has inboxed me. I have read every single msg & your precious concern really makes me feel so blessed my 1 million family.” Further, “I will be back on social media as soon as I’m in better health, can’t thank you all enough for your Love deal all, specially my family, my friends & Instagrammers.”
Fans responded positively to the Instagram posts (now expired).
Galrani, who has predominantly worked in the Kannada (known as ‘Sandalwood’), Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu film industries, was arrested on September 8, four days after the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Bengaluru police raided actor Ragini Dwivedi‘s house in connection with the drug racket case. Galrani was then booked under several provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Known as the ‘Sandalwood drugs scandal’, the case is an ongoing investigation that started on August 21 when the Narcotics Control Bureau raided an upscale gated community, Nikoo Homes, in Bengaluru. Along with a number of drugs, a diary containing names of 15 celebrities including actors, musicians, models and reality show personalities from the Kannada entertainment industry, was also seized. Those named were then accused of procuring drugs (including marijuana), arranging high-end rave parties, and supplying them at such events.
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On October 9, a special NDPS court in Karnataka extended the judicial custody of the actors until October 23 after rejecting their bail plea multiple times. Following this, the Karnataka High Court once again denied bail to the actors on November 3 and kept the case on hold until the first week of January 2021 for further hearing.
On December 4, the court rejected bail pleas filed by Galrani for the second time along with co-accused Dwivedi’s special leave plea and that of three other co-accused.
The Karnataka High Court granted bail to Galrani on 11 December 2020 on medical grounds.